Cookie Party/Robert's Birthday

Grandma Fee and Aunt Stacy came up as a surprise after leading both Aunt Wendy and I to think they wouldn't be coming until Janurary. They arrived at 2am and scared Robert to death when they called his phone to have us open the door. This happened to be Robert's birthday and the day that Wendy and I were going to make cookies all day. It worked out well. After Alestair got Grandma and Aunt Stacy up we went to Home Depot to get moulding for the window that Robert was going to replace*. We then went to breakfast for Robert's birthday. Alestair threw a huge tantrum there in the IHOP. Very embarrasing. We then returned to set Robert to work (and Alestair to sleep) and Grandma, Stacy and I went to Freddy's to get odds and ends. We returned to a finished window and our efforts weren't quite as needed. Soon Aunt Wendy and Nic came with their new dog Bridget. She is soo cute and very good. She really showed Anabel how to act not that she did anything different.

This is Bridget.

Below: I call this the "Look Like Mom Moment." We all look alike here..weird.

We then began our prep for the cookie making. Since Grandma didn't have everthing quite ready she mixed her Mexican Wedding Cakes up and we pulled the pre-refigerated cookies that Aunt Wendy and I made (Ginger snaps and Chocolate Crinkle Cookies).

Aunt Wendy and Aunt Stacy began rolling the cookies and got a bit "cookie rolling drunk".

Stacy is a true beauty. Picture comentary for below: They are too stuck need to spatulas...very serious...how about I just eat the crumbs they aren't going to go home with anyone...again very serious business...not sure if she should cry or laugh. There are only two whole cookies.Aunt Wendy always makes the peppermint candy cane cookies...We acidently froze the dough and then forgot to spray the pans so they came out a bit different than planned. Still good! Thoughout the day we did take breaks. We had homemade burritos for lunch (fresh made tortillas by yours truly). Robert made some amazing meatballs as for dinner (shortcut buy Ikea meatballs). Grandma also got to open up her Christmas presents early--Picture blocks! Alestair liked having her tell him who was in the pictures. It was a fun day! A complete blast! Thank you Grandma Fee, Aunt Stacy, Aunt Wendy, Nic and Robert!

*Story with the window. About 2 hours after Robert left for an OSHA training (2days) trip; I took Anabel outside to her leash and left the door open as usual since Alestair likes to go with me. I came back to the door started pushing it open since it was closed (I thought it wasn't latched) Alestair shut it the rest of the way and as I was about to turn the knob he locked the door on me. So I had to kick the plexiglass window in. Thus Robert needed to replace it.

A boy and His Dog

Alestair loves ice and pretending to drink soda. He does NOT like soda nor do we give it to him much. He has tried sprite (its all this place had to drink seriously) and has sipped root beer which he likes but after sprite tasting he will not actually take a drink from a soda cup. He does steal soda cups because they have ice in them and he loves the ice. Anabel loves ice too. So they walk around like this with a cup of ice. Its really cute.

Bugaloo

Just because he is soo cute.

Stitches out!

Alestair went in for his well check of 15 and 18 months. We were unable to go in at 15 months due to moving and then couldnt get him in with the doctor we wanted for 16 months so they combined the two. He is a complete boy. His biggest complaint was that the doctor would not let him take the stitches out by himself. He has a really nice scar. He got 4 shots and didn't cry until the last one and then only until the nurse walked out of the room at which point he decided that we just needed to go. He is 31.5inches tall and 22.9lbs. His head is still huge in the 99th percentile. We actually thought it was going to drop into the 90th since it was finally in the 93rd but it grew again. He must have some great brains! His weight and height are still in the lower 20th percentile but the doctors say that they like his porotions so its all good. He is very healthy and impressed the doctor by talking in sentences. :)

First candy cane!

Alestair got to taste his first candy cane. He wasn't sure about it at first but since can't get enough.

This is how Alestair continues to decorate the tree. Notice the cow from his nativity set is under the branches.

Our Tree 2009

This year was the first year since our very first Christmas that we got a tree. We have driven up to Vancouver from LA for the last 3 Christmas celebrations and felt we didn't want to come home to a burnt up home so never got a real tree. Thus this year as we are starting our traditions and doing our thing, we decided to cut down our own tree. Unfortunately our little Everett area does not have a tree farm. I went to the Christmas Tree Association website and found as close a tree farm to Thornton's as I could. We went to Snohomish and my goodness it was NOTHING like Thornton's. They had two sheep...we call them Jesus sheep (story to follow). These sheep were for petting and they did not like people nor were they pet-able since they were nappy and wet it was gross. Alestair refused to touch them so we just got close. They had many trees that were not really pruned or anything like that but we finally found a very nice tree that Robert cut down and then hauled (it isn't that big) to the tree place. They had a nice little gift shop and hot chocolate/cider. We found a few things we liked there. Now this is where the "Jesus sheep" come in. As Robert is trying to pay for the tree and other items the woman who owned the tree farm with her husband started showing Robert this book about her sheep. She tried really hard to get him to buy it. In her words it was "full of miracles". It ended up being all about her sheep that she named after names in the bible and every time she did this something happened to the sheep and then a miracle followed. Needless to say we will not be going there again could not get out of there soon enough.

We put our tree up as soon as we got home. Alestair thought it was wonderful. It was a great time. I love decorating the tree. I have really missed it. Alestair loves the tree so much he walked around it for 3 days asking what every ornament was and telling me they were pretty. He was in awe. He continues to try to decorate the tree with his toys. They mostly just end up under the tree.

December 1

I can't believe its already December! I want to make sure that everyone knows our happy news! We will be welcoming a new baby boy to the family sometime in late April or early May (He is due May 1..hoping a little earlier). We are so excited! Alestair alreay knows and will show my belly to anyone who asks where the baby is. He will be a great big brother. Hopefully we will have overcome the habit of sitting on babies by then and moved to greater things like no diapers! This is yet to be seen. Unfortunately we lost our printer cord in the move and will be purchasing a new one but until then I can't scan the pictures in from the ultrasound.